Master's gateway route

The master’s gateway route is an accelerated entry programme to CIMA for people who hold an MBA or Master's in Accounting.

Current or lapsed CIMA students that hold an MBA or Master's in Accounting may also be eligible for this route.

If you have previously attempted and failed any CIMA exam, you must pass that paper (or the equivalent in the current syllabus) before you are eligible for this route.

How does it work?

This route requires you to sit a three-hour exam held in May and November each year. It assesses your knowledge of the material covered in the management level of the CIMA Professional Qualification.

Once you have passed you will be awarded the CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting and be granted exemptions from all certificate, operational and management level exams in CIMA Professional Qualification.

Once you pass the assessment, you can then enter the CIMA Professional Qualification at the strategic level.

Find out more about the gateway exam in our student section.

How much does it cost?

There are two different options for the Master’s gateway:

Master's gateway – assessment only

This route costs GBP350 and includes:

  • Registration with CIMA
  • The first year’s subscriptions fees
  • One attempt at the exam
  • All 11 exemptions from certificate, operational and management level exams after successfully passing the gateway exam

Master's gateway package

This route costs GBP600 and includes:

  • Registration with CIMA
  • The first year’s subscriptions fees
  • One attempt at the exam
  • All 11 exemptions from certificate, operational and management level exams after successfully passing the gateway exam
  • CIMAstudy.com online study modules for E2, P2 and F2

The gateway package also includes your choice of one of the following CIMAstudy.com study packages.

Package Looks at Suitable for
C1 and C2 Fundamentals of management and financial accounting. MBA graduates looking to brush up on the basics.
P1 and F1 How finance facilitates strategy. How financial statements are prepared. MBA graduates looking to become more familiar with the performance and financial pillars of the CIMA Professional Qualification.
E1 and P1 Creating and implementing strategy and how finance facilitates this. Master’s in Accounting graduates who would like some focus on the enterprise and performance pillars of the CIMA Professional Qualification.
E1 and F1 Creating and implementing strategy.  Preparing financial statements. Master's in Accounting graduates who would like some focus on the enterprise and financial pillars of the CIMA Professional Qualification.

Get started

To get started you must register as a CIMA student and submit documents proving you are eligible for this route.

The documents you need to submit are:

  • Complete transcripts (marksheets) for all stages
  • Final certificate showing completion of qualification

Details of how to submit your documents will be emailed to you after you register.

Once we’ve approved your documents you can then register for the gateway exam.

Registration deadlines

November 2013 exam deadlines

  • Register as a student and submit relevant documents: 31 July 2013
  • Register for exam entry: 14 September 2013